Author: Libby Hanssen
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Black Violin: “Not Your Grandma’s Classical Concert”
When Black Violin steps on stage, their unique blend of classical training and hip-hop aesthetic creates a concert experience which defies expectations, what can only be defined as “classical boom.” Black Violin returns to Kansas City, performing at the Kauffman Center Oct. 3, after a sold-out show there in 2016.
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Concert to Come: Beethoven’s Triple Concerto
Kansas City Symphony opens its 2018-2019 season fusing dance inspiration and musical eloquence with festive flourish, but it’s a season marked by significant changes ahead for the organization. Along with Aaron Jay Kernis’ “New Era Dances” and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Symphonic Dances,” the opening concert features three soloists on Ludwig van Beethoven’s Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano in C major, op. 56.
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A Stimulating Season for Music Lovers
Rest well, classical music fans. You will need your strength to get through this eclectic season provided by Kansas City’s cultural organizations. Fortunately, there is plenty of stimulation in the community’s vibrant offerings. First off, we noticed an uptick in representation of women throughout the year. Concerts devoted to the works of women pepper the season, but more importantly, works by women are integrated in the programming, accounting for fewer token, and more sustainable, appearances.
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The Job: Christy Elsner
“If you’re not sweating you’re not working.” That sounds like something a spin class instructor might say, but it’s a popular phrase from Christy Elsner, founder and artistic director of Allegro Choirs of Kansas City, a community-based children’s choir. However, laughter and enthusiasm were the two defining takeaways after talking with Elsner. “It’s always an adventure,” she said.
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Gerald Trimble: Sharing Diverse Cultures Through Music
To listen to Gerald Trimble on viola da gamba is to whirl through the centuries, a cascade of cultures, countries and influences coalescing into a unique sound with ancient roots. Trimble is a wizard, weaving spells on the knee fiddle. Or perhaps an alchemist, mixing the improvisatory styles of Celtic, Turkish and Indian traditions with 17th-century English baroque and American jazz.
